UC Davis Aggies
Big West (25-6, 14-2)
If UC Davis was going to make any noise under Coach Jim Les, this was probably going to be the year. There is a lot of experience on the roster and plenty of talent. However, the Aggies were still picked by most to finish towards the bottom of the Big West. Instead, they finished on top.
Big Wins: 11/26 Utah State (77-70), 1/29 UCSB (70-64), 2/5 at UC Irvine (75-56)
Bad Losses: 12/6 at Idaho (71-79), 12/30 at Seattle (67-76), 1/22 at Hawaii (76-84)
Coach: Jim Les
Why They Can Surprise:
Looking around the collegiate basketball landscape, it is hard to find a team that has been more efficient offensively than UC Davis. The team as a whole shoots 49.5 percent from the floor. With a number like that, one would assume this is a frontcourt dominated team that gets a lot of easy buckets close to the basket. That is not the case at all with the Aggies. The team connects on 8.6 three-pointers per game, which is 19th most in the nation, and has a nation-best 45.2 percent three-point shooting percentage. Corey Hawkins is the main reason for the impressive outside shooting. The senior guard has hit 49.0 percent of his 157 attempts. Hawkins can score inside the arc too and his 20.4 points per game can, and will, carry this team. Power forward Josh Ritchart and coaches’ son Tyler Les are the other two top outside shooters.
Why They Can Disappoint:
UC Davis does not have to make three-pointers to win games, but it will certainly help in the postseason. The bigger issue may be on the glass, where this is a subpar squad by Big West standards. J.T. Adenrele was once a great rebounder, but injuries seemed to have put an end to that. He is still a nice presence in the paint, but only averages about four rebounds per game. Josh Fox has been productive off of the bench and Ritchart does some good work on the glass despite spending so much time on the perimeter. But outside of Hawkins, this team will have trouble matching up player for player against most teams they will see in the postseason.
Probable Starters:
Darius Graham, Sophomore, Guard, 4.3 ppg, 3.3 apg
Corey Hawkins, Senior, Guard, 20.4 ppg, 3.4 apg, 4.9 rpg, 1.4 spg
Avery Johnson, Senior, Guard, 6.3 ppg, 1.8 apg, 1.3 spg
Josh Ritchart, Senior, Forward, 12.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg
J.T. Adenrele, Junior, Forward, 6.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Josh Fox, Junior, Forward, 9.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Brynton Lemar, Sophomore, Guard, 2.6 ppg
Tyler Les, Senior, Guard, 7.3 ppg, 1.5 apg
Neal Monson, Sophomore, Center, 5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.4 (80th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 64.1 (113, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 49.5 (4, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.8 (77, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.6 (19, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 45.2 (1, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.3 (38, 3)
Rebound Margin: 0.0 (198, 7)
Assists Per Game: 13.6 (95, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.5 (257, 8)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
No Tournament History
*all team stats through 3/8
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules